Marriage is good for your health, say researchers

Preventing heart disease could be another benefit of matrimony

Marriage has serious health benefits, boosting your chances of survival if you have a heart risk factor, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, according to the latest research.

Based on a study of nearly a million adults who were all a risk of heart issues, having a supportive husband or wife inspires a desire to take better care of oneself. The research, which was presented at the British Cardiovascular Society, looked at deaths from all causes and found that 'men and women in their 50s, 60s and 70s with high cholesterol were 16 percent more likely to be alive at the end of the 14-year study if they were married rather than single', reports the BBC.

The results were less unclear for couples cohabiting, separated, divorced or widowed.

'We need to unpick the underlying reasons a bit more, but it appears there's something about being married that is protective, not only in patients with heart disease but also those with heart disease risk factors,' said lead researcher Dr Paul Carter from Aston Medical School.

'We're not saying that everyone should get married though. We need to replicate the positive effects of marriage and use friends, family and social support networks in the same way.'

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: 'The take-home message is that our social interactions, as well as medical risk factors such as high blood pressure, are important determinants of both our health and wellbeing. Whether you are married or not, if you have any of the main risk factors for heart disease, then you can call upon loved ones to help you to manage them.'

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